Welcome to the Ward Lab
We are a group of myrmecologists who study the taxonomy, evolution, biogeography, and behavior of ants.
In many terrestrial habitats – especially those of the lowland tropics – ants rival other arthropods in numerical abundance, ecological importance, and species richness. Our research is concerned with unraveling details about the evolutionary history of ants and attempting to understand the processes that have generated such an extraordinary diversity of form and function. This work entails species-level taxonomy through analyses of phylogenetic relationships, among other topics.
Photo © 2006 Alexander Wild
The Ant Subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae
All about the big-eyed tree ants.
Ants of California
The ant fauna of California comprises 8 subfamilies, 44 genera and approximately 300 species (of which 30 are introduced). About 25% of the native species are endemic to the state or to the California Floristic Province (including northern Baja California and southern Oregon).
Current Graduate Students
Jill Oberski
Dorymyrmex: New World biogeography, phylogenetics, and integrative taxonomy
Zachary Griebenow
Revision of the Leptanillinae based on phylogenomic data and male morphology
Ziv Lieberman
Joined the Ward Lab Fall 2020
UC Davis Entomology & Nematology
Insect Biodiversity Field Courses
Explore an enormous variety of habitats in ENT 107 and 109, two intensive courses in insect taxonomy and field ecology taught by Dr. Phil Ward.
The Ward Lab 